DOCSLIB.ORG

Impact Case Study (Ref3b) Page 1 Institution

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Impact Case Study (Ref3b) Page 1 Institution Impact case study (REF3b) Institution: University of the West of Scotland Unit of Assessment: 19 Title of case study: Research on local taxation leads to adoption of policies around a Scottish Service Tax 1. Summary of the impact (indicative maximum 100 words) Research by Geoff Whittam and Mike Danson at the University of the West of Scotland looked at the local effects of the Council Tax on poverty and inequality. Their work led to them proposing a new progressive model of ‘local’ taxation called the Scottish Service Tax (SST). The research has been used by NGOs and other organisation to inform their own policy positions and campaigns for taxation reforms and poverty alleviation. The SST model has been cited extensively in submissions to enquiries and debates about Scottish local funding reforms. SST was adopted by the Scottish Socialist Party in 2002 which led to a Bill being put before the Scottish Parliament. 2. Underpinning research (indicative maximum 500 words) Context The question of what makes a ‘good tax’ was first posed by the pioneer of political economy Adam Smith in the 18th century. He outlined the four principles of taxation which remain the cornerstone of national taxation systems around the globe. In the 1970s, however, the Layfield Commission highlighted the benefits of a local income tax for the provision of local services. After devolution, the Scottish Parliament had the authority and legitimacy to alter the form of taxation for local authority spending. However, there was no fiscal autonomy for Scotland within the devolutionary settlement. If the issues of poverty and inequality were to be tackled through fiscal transfers, then reforming local taxation was necessary. Council tax: effects on poverty and inequality In [2001], Geoff Whittam [Reader in Enterprise 1995-2013] and Professor Mike Danson [1988- 2012] carried out meta-data analysis to investigate the effects of local taxation in the UK. The research highlighted the extent of poverty and inequality within Scotland and the United Kingdom and showed how the regressive nature of the Council Tax exacerbated this situation [3.1]. This initial research was first published in 2003, but has been continually updated in response to various elections and Parliamentary enquiries into local government finance [3.2-3.5]. The latest update by the researchers contained additional analysis of the impact of the Council Tax freeze on poverty. This latest work analysed the case for replacing the Council Tax with a Land Value Tax (LVT). They argued that land tax makes sense in a modern economy because land cannot be moved to countries with cheaper labour (for manufacturing) or lighter tax regimes (for service and internet-based commerce) The additional research involved collaboration with Prof C. Cooper of Strathclyde University [3.3 3.4 and 3.5] and the former MSP Tommy Sheridan [3.4] A new model of taxation: the Scottish Services Tax (SST) Since devolution, there have been numerous calls for the revision of local government financing in Scotland, for example by the McIntosh Commission and by influential bodies such as the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA). Based on their analyses of the Council Tax, Whittam and Danson proposed a model for a new, progressive, local taxation system which they called the Scottish Service Tax (SST). As in any taxation system, there would be winners and losers; the main people to benefit from SST would be those on low incomes who suffer the most under the Council Tax system [see 3.1]. The researchers showed how the SST should increase revenues beyond the levels of the Council Tax; provide exemptions for certain groups (e.g. with incomes under £10,000); meet the ‘classical’ Page 1 Impact case study (REF3b) criteria for a local tax; and be progressive. The researchers showed how the SST could be used to redistribute resources from wealthy areas of Scotland to the more deprived regions. They showed that this rebalancing would lead to growth in the Scottish economy as a whole due to the multiplier effects of redistributive policies [3.1, 3.2, 3.3]. Key researchers Mike Danson: Professor (with UWS from October 1988 to October 2012) Geoffrey Whittam: Reader (with UWS from April 1995 to April 2013) 3. References to the research (indicative maximum of six references) Key references 3.1 Danson, M. & Whittam, G. (2003). The Case for a Scottish Service Tax Capital & Class 81 Autumn, 61-85. doi: 10.1177/030981680308100106 http://cnc.sagepub.com/content/27/3/61.short translated int: http://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=8005336 3.2 Danson, M. & Whittam, G. (2007). Using the Tax System Under Devolution to Address the Effects of Poverty in Scotland with Mike Danson, in Cumbers A. and Whittam G, (eds.) Reclaiming the Economy, pp. 187- 194. 3.3 Cooper, C., Danson, M. & Whittam, G. (2007). Tackling Income Poverty Through Local Taxation’. In (Eds. G Mooney and G Scott), Poverty in Scotland, Policy Press, Bristol, pp.99- 110. 3.4 Cooper C., Danson M., Sheridan T., and Whittam G. (2010). The Neoliberal Project: Local taxation Intervention in Scotland Critical Perspectives on Accounting 21 195-210. Ranked 3*http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpa.2009.11.001 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1045235409001282 3.5 Cooper C., Danson M., and Whittam G. (2010). Local Taxation, Spending and Poverty New Choices and Tax Justice, The Poverty Alliance. http://povertyalliance.org/userfiles/files/briefings/PADiscussion_Paper_Local_Taxation_Feb2 013.pdf 4. Details of the impact (indicative maximum 750 words) Informing national policy debate Enquiries, consultations and committee hearings on the many proposed reforms to funding local services have been held; many submissions to these consultations refer directly to the SST. For example the Finance Committee of the Scottish Parliament met eight times between September 2005 and Jan 2006 to discuss the detail of the Bill which was put before Parliament in February 2006. In [2002] the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) adopted the SST as its model for local services funding. The adoption was made at the Party Congress and has been a part of their campaigning activity ever since [see testimonial from Colin Fox]. The SSP drew up a draft Bill for debate in the Scottish Parliament, which allowed the merits of SST to be debated within the Scottish Parliament and the proposed model and underpinning research to be highlighted to a wide range of MSPs and consequently to local authorities and the wider policy-making community [see evidence from Gordon Morgan]. Informing government policy and legislation In 2008 the Scottish Parliament launched a consultation on ‘A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland’ which received submissions on SST [B]. After the consultation process the Scottish National Party (SNP) developed and adopted a model of a local income tax as its preferred option for paying for local services. Supporting NGO and union policy/campaigning Page 2 Impact case study (REF3b) Whittam and Danson were invited to make presentations to several non-government organisations (NGOs) such as Oxfam, [see testimonial from Oxfam]. These organisations have subsequently used the work to inform their own positions on ‘what makes a good tax policy’ and adopted the principles of local service taxation, especially as a mechanism to alleviate poverty. As mentioned above, several NGOs submitted evidence to ‘A Fairer Local Tax for Scotland’, consultation by the Scottish Government 2008.Several NGOs cite evidence from the researchers and support the SST as a model for funding local services. Oxfam Scotland reports that the research informed its analysis of using taxation as a means to reduce poverty. The charity states: “The ideas of fiscal transfer at the centre of the SST are precisely what Oxfam advocates, we fully support the aims of the SST.” [C] The research commissioned by Poverty Alliance was reported in the publication Local Taxation, Spending and Poverty: New Choices and Tax Justice (See Section 2). Poverty Alliance stated that this report was “written as a contribution to the recently-muted debate on how the overall tax and benefit system operates at the local level and how the conspiracy across the political spectrum in Holyrood of the last few years to freeze the Council Tax has impacted on families and authorities” [D] The Rail Maritime Trade Union (RMT) supported the SST. The union states that the adoption the SST is “still union policy”. Before being adopted as union policy it was widely debated at all levels of the union [see testimonial from the RMT]. The researchers have over the last decade been invited to make presentations of their research to a number of organisations such as Glasgow Centre for Population. Similarly, the Scottish Trade Union Congress invited the authors of the SST to make a presentation to members of the trade union movement. [see testimonial from the STUC] Informing public discourse Since 2008 there have been numerous occasions when the merits of the SST have been presented and debated within public fora, including newspapers, magazines and television. The SST has also been debated at trade union meetings, community group meetings and public meetings, typically during local authority or Scottish Parliament election campaigns. 5. Sources to corroborate the impact (indicative maximum of 10 references) A. Statement from Policy and Advocacy Manager UK Poverty Programme, Oxfam Scotland B. Statement from Parliamentary Liaison Officer, RMT C. Statement from Assistant Secretary, STUC D. Statement from the Scottish Socialist Party. E. Statement from Solidarity and Jimmy Reid Foundation Page 3 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Download Issue
    Scottish Left Review Issue 79 November/December 2013 £2.00 Comment Scottish Left Review Issue 79 November/December 2013 t is difficult to maintain constitutional Ineutrality at this tail-end of 2013. Of course we will continue to do our best to keep the SLR open as a space for Contents anyone on the Scottish left, a place where they can feel at home and contribute Comment .......................................................2 to a debate that stretches beyond the boundaries of party or constitutional Democracy in writing ....................................4 position. That is our duty as a magazine Jean Urquhart created expressly for that purpose. Solid foundations for change .........................6 But the duty lies not only on us to Michael Keating keep that space open but on all sides to fill that space. Because it can surely not Our share of the future ..................................8 be possible for us to face the desolation Robin McAlpine which lies across Scottish society in the dog-days of this unlucky year without Graveyard or get-together ..........................10 some sort of answer to what lies all Isobel Lindsay around us. Welfare Nation State ...................................12 What answer to Grangemouth? John McInally Facile talk of ‘the need to work together’ is an insult to the collective intelligence. Labour and the trade unions .......................14 All it states is that if we keep the fork Gregor Gall, Richard Leonard, Bob Crow and let others keep the knife, it will be impossible for us to eat on our own. That Real energy answers ...................................18 may not be a bad thing, but someone Andy Cumbers needs to explain why.
    [Show full text]
  • Eet/S4/14/10/A Economy, Energy And
    EET/S4/14/10/A ECONOMY, ENERGY AND TOURISM COMMITTEE AGENDA 10th Meeting, 2014 (Session 4) Wednesday 2 April 2014 The Committee will meet at 9.30 am in Committee Room 4. 1. Scotland's Economic Future Post-2014: The Committee will take evidence from— Iain McMillan, CBE, Director, CBI Scotland; Owen Kelly, OBE, Chief Executive, Scottish Financial Enterprise; David Watt, Regional Director, Institute of Directors Scotland; Colin Borland, Head of External Affairs, Scotland, Federation of Small Businesses; Garry Clarke, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Scottish Chambers of Commerce; and then from— Stephen Boyd, Assistant Secretary, Scottish Trades Union Congress; Professor Mike Danson, Professor of Enterprise Policy, Heriot-Watt University; Robin McAlpine, Director, Jimmy Reid Foundation. 2. Scotland's Economic Future Post-2014- Review of evidence heard (in private): The Committee will review the evidence heard at today's meeting. EET/S4/14/10/A Fergus Cochrane Clerk to the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee Room T2.60 The Scottish Parliament Edinburgh Tel: 0131 348 5230 Email: [email protected] EET/S4/14/10/A The papers for this meeting are as follows— Agenda item 1 Note from the clerk EET/S4/14/10/1 PRIVATE PAPER EET/S4/14/10/2 (P) EET/S4/14/10/1 Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee 10th Meeting, 2014 (Session 4), Wednesday, 2 April 2014 Scotland’s Economic Future Post-2014 Introduction 1. This paper provides background information for the Committee’s sixth evidence session of its inquiry into Scotland’s economic future post 2014. The theme for this session is ‘economic sectors, regulation, trade, labour markets’.
    [Show full text]
  • Scottish Leftreview
    ScottishLeft Review Issue 96 November/December 2016 - £2.00 'best re(a)d' 1 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 96 November/December 2016 LRD TUC Sept15_Layout 1 10/07/2015 14:09 Page 1 FIGHT ANTI-UNION LAWS www.rmt.org.uk General Secretary: Mick Cash President President: PSeaneter P iHoylenkney ASLEF CALLS FOR AN INTEGRATED, PUBLICLY OWNED, ACCOUNTABLE RAILWAY FOR SCOTLAND (which used to be the SNP’s position – before they became the government!) Mick Whelan Tosh McDonald Kevin Lindsay General Secretary President Scottish Ocer ASLEF the train drivers union- www.aslef.org.uk 2 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 96 November/December 2016 feedback comment Back to the future and forward to the past he Jimmy Reid Foundation, the Foundation, it was my duty and Labour (instead of Blair, Brown and sister organisation of Scottish honour to give the vote of thanks Miliband, and the array of Scottish TLeft Review, held its annual at the end of the lecture. I took the Labour leaders – Dewar, McLeish, lecture on Thursday 6 October. This opportunity to say that I was sure that McConnell, Gray, Alexander, Lamont, year, the fourth annual lecture, was Jimmy Reid would have welcomed reviews Murphy and now Dugdale). Corbyn’s given by Jeremy Corbyn. He received Jeremy’s election and re-election to refusal to support independence a rapturous reception before he had the leadership of the Labour party. would not have been such an issue in uttered a word and then afterwards a This was for various reasons, all these circumstances as it would have standing ovation from the majority of centred around the point that Corbyn been counter-balanced by his more the 600-odd people gathered in the is the Labour leader that many on the left-wing policies so that far fewer Govan Old Parish Church that night.
    [Show full text]
  • Scottish Leftreview
    ScottishLeft Review Issue 103 January/February 2018 - £2.00 'best re(a)d' PLUS: PFI/PPP scandal in North Ayrshire I Universal Credit Politics in Germany after their election I and more ... 1 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 103 January/February 2018 ASLEF CALLS FOR AN INTEGRATED, PUBLICLY OWNED, ACCOUNTABLE RAILWAY FOR SCOTLAND (which used to be the SNP’s position – before they became the government!) Mick Whelan Tosh McDonald Kevin Lindsay General Secretary President Scottish Ocer ASLEF the train drivers union- www.aslef.org.uk 2 - ScottishLeftReview Issue 103 January/February 2018 feedback comment 2018: here we go cottish Left Review wholeheartedly interview with Richard, we have asked campaign, it became clear that Leonard welcomes the election of Richard others to lay out their perspectives on did not command a majority of support SLeonard to the leadership of what difference his election makes and from his parliamentary colleagues in Scottish Labour. As outlined in the last what difference he may make in future. the 24 strong Labour group at Holyrood. editorial, his election was we argued to Indeed, the composition of his front He won by a sizable margin (57% to 43%) be a benefit to all of the left in the age bench team reflects this, with the likes of overall but not amongst individual party of the hegemony of austerity and neo- Jackie Ballie, Sarwar and Iain Gray in its members (52% to 48%) or registered liberalism. How much worse off the left ranks. supporters (48% to 52%), indicating that reviews would have been without his election despite progress being made the right is What this all means is that the task can be gleaned when one considers not still a considerable force within Scottish of Scottish Labour under Leonard’s just his competitor’s personal behaviour Labour.
    [Show full text]
  • The Scottish Independence Referendum and After
    THE SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM AND AFTER Michael Keating Professor of Politics at the University of Aberdeen, and director of the Centre on Constitutional Change SUMMARY: The Scottish Dilemma. – Constitutional Traditions in Scotland. – The Na- tionalists in Government. – The Battle Ground. – Economy and Finance. – Welfare. – Defence and Security. – Europe. – The Campaign. – The Outcome. – The Aftermath. – The Smith Report. – EVEL and Barnett. – The European Context. – The Future of the State. – Abstract – Resum – Resumen. The Scottish Dilemma The Scottish independence referendum on 18 September 2014 was a highly unusual event, an agreed popular vote on secession in an advanced industrial democracy. The result, with 45 per cent for in- dependence and 55 per cent against, might seem to have settled the question decisively. Yet, paradoxically, it is the losing side that has emerged in better shape and more optimistic, while the winners have been plunged into difficulties. In order to understand what has hap- pened, we need to examine the referendum in light of the evolution of the United Kingdom and the changing place of Scotland within it. Scotland should be seen as a case of the kind of spatial rescaling that is taking place more generally across Europe, as new forms of state- hood and of sovereignty evolve. Scottish public opinion favours more self-government but no longer recognizes the traditional nation-state model presented in the referendum question. Article received 12/12/2014; approved 12/12/2014. 73 REAF núm. 21, abril 2015, p. 73-98 Michael Keating Constitutional Traditions in Scotland Since the late nineteenth century union, there have been three main constitutional traditions in Scotland.
    [Show full text]
  • “An Independent Scotland Should Be a Member of NATO” the NATO Debate in Context 2 of 7 NOTES
    MOTION:MOTION: FEBRUARY 2014 “AN INDEPENDENT NATO SCOTLAND SHOULD STEPHEN DAISLEY BE A MEMBER OF NATO” CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 of 7 NOTES The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is an intergovernmental Introduction 1 military alliance of mainly North American and European powers Key terms 1 committed to the principle of common defence. It was founded in 1949 after the Western powers, suspicious of the Soviet Union’s intentions The NATO debate in context 2 following the end of World War II, signed the North Atlantic Treaty. Essential reading 4 NATO would bring together those nations “resolved to unite their efforts for collective defence and for the preservation of peace and Backgrounders 5 security” [Ref: NATO]. The organisation grew in importance during the Cold War between the West and the Soviet Union, which established a Organisations 5 counter-alliance, the Warsaw Pact, in 1955. Although created as a check In the news 6 on Soviet expansionism, NATO did not conduct any military operations until after the collapse of the Soviet Union but it has since intervened in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Libya. The alliance has grown from the 12 original signatories and now numbers 28 member states, the most recent additions being Albania and Croatia in 2009. Three member states have an independent nuclear deterrent—the United States, the KEY TERMS UK, and France—while a further five host American weapons as part NATO of NATO’s “nuclear sharing” policy [Ref: Arms Control Association]. The UK’s nuclear weapons are based in Scotland, and this, along with the Nuclear Sharing financial, organisational and ethical debates surrounding defence policy, Trident has thrown NATO into the spotlight in the independence referendum.
    [Show full text]
  • Strengthening the Think Tank Sector in Scotland
    Institute for Public Policy Research STRENGTHENING THE THINK TANK SECTOR IN SCOTLAND Jack Fawcett, Doug Sloan and Russell Gunson March 2021 ABOUT IPPR SCOTLAND IPPR Scotland is IPPR’s dedicated think tank for Scotland. We are cross-party, progressive, and neutral on the question of Scotland’s independence. IPPR Scotland is dedicated to supporting and improving public policy in Scotland, working tirelessly to achieve a progressive Scotland. IPPR, the Institute for Public Policy Research, is the UK’s leading progressive think tank. We are an independent charitable organisation with our main offices in London. IPPR North, IPPR’s dedicated think tank for the North of England, operates out of offices in Manchester and Newcastle, and IPPR Scotland is based in Edinburgh. IPPR's purpose is to conduct and promote research into, and the education of the public in, the economic, social and political sciences, science and technology, the voluntary sector and social enterprise, public services, and industry and commerce. IPPR Scotland Hayweight House 23 Lauriston St Edinburgh, EH3 9DQ T: +44 (0)131 281 0886 E: [email protected] www.ippr.org/scotland Registered charity no: 800065 (England and Wales), SC046557 (Scotland) This paper was first published in March 2021. © IPPR 2021 The contents and opinions expressed in this paper are those of the authors' only. The progressive policy think tank CONTENTS Summary ..........................................................................................................................3 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................6 2. History of the Scottish parliament and devolution ........................................8 3. What is a think tank? ..............................................................................................12 4. The think tank sector in Scotland ....................................................................... 17 5. Understanding the think tank sector in Scotland ..........................................23 6.
    [Show full text]
  • The Pro-Independence Radical Left in Scotland Since 2012 Nathalie DUCLOS Université De Toulouse 2-Jean Jaurès
    The Pro-independence Radical Left in Scotland since 2012 Nathalie DUCLOS Université de Toulouse 2-Jean Jaurès The Pro-independence Radical Left in Scotland since 2012 Nathalie DUCLOS Université de Toulouse 2-Jean Jaurès CAS EA 801 [email protected] Résumé Cet article a pour objectif de dessiner les contours de la gauche radicale et indépendantiste dans l’Écosse d’aujourd’hui. La longue campagne qui a précédé le référendum sur l’indépendance écossaise de 2014 (celle-ci ayant commencé dès 2012, soit plus de deux ans avant le référendum lui-même) a donné naissance à un nouveau paysage politique, surtout à gauche. Celui-ci se caractérise par deux tendances : la multiplication de nouvelles organisations (par exemple la Radical Independence Campaign, Common Weal et le Scottish Left Project), souvent (mais pas toujours) favorables à l’indépendance écossaise, et le renforcement des partis indépendantistes de gauche ou de centre-gauche déjà existants, qui ont tous gagné énormément de nouveaux adhérents. Cet article se concentre sur les organisations indépendantistes de la gauche radicale en Écosse : celles créées depuis 2012, ainsi que celles qui leur ont donné naissance. Après avoir présenté chacune de ces organisations et les liens qui existent entre elles, il se penche sur leurs stratégies à court terme (présenter des candidats et remporter des sièges aux élections parlementaires écossaises de 2016) et à moyen ou long terme (faire campagne pour l’organisation d’un nouveau référendum sur l’indépendance écossaise et proposer une vision de l’indépendance différente de celle mise en avant par le Scottish National Party). Abstract This article aims at mapping the pro-independence radical left in today’s Scotland.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Issue 78
    Scottish Left Review Issue 78 September/October 2013 £2.00 September 18 A Year To Go Photo: Murdoch ferguson WHATEVER SCOTLAND’S FUTURE NO CUTS Janice Godrich National President Mark Serwotka General Secretary Lynn Henderson Scottish Secretary Public and Commercial Services Union | pcs.org.uk OY R R AL U M O A E I L V A S g r w .o ww.cwu 2 Scottish Left Review E: [email protected] Issue 78 September/October 2013 W: www.scottishleftreview.org Photo: Murdoch ferguson T: 0141 424 0042 Contents A: Scottish Left Review 741 Shields Road, Pollokshields Comment ........................... 3 A giant of the movement ..16 Glasgow G41 4PL A marathon, not a sprint ... 4 Len McCluskey Dennis Canavan A privatisation too far .......18 Editorial Committee John Brown Malcolm Balfour Henry McCubbin Better Together ................. 6 Cat Boyd David Miller Blair McDougall Democracy behind bars ....20 Moira Craig Gordon Morgan We will not disappear ........ 8 Lucy Blackburn Gregor Gall Tom Nairn Cat Boyd The not-working programme .22 Isobel Lindsay Jonathan Shafi John McAllion Pauline Bryan Tommy Sheppard Class, not nation ...............10 Robin McAlpine Elaine Smith Dave Watson Reviews ............................25 (Editor) Bob Thomson Peter McColl (Convener) Regret, bitterness, apathy ....14 Kick Up The Tabloids ........26 Michael Gray Printer by Clydeside Press Ltd, WHATEVER SCOTLAND’S FUTURE NO CUTS 37 High Street, Glasgow G1 1LX Janice Godrich National President Mark Serwotka General Secretary Lynn Henderson Scottish Secretary Comment Is utopia of any use in the modern world? Public and Commercial Services Union | pcs.org.uk e had planned that this issue something better than had we not tried.
    [Show full text]
  • The Case for Universalism
    The Case for Universalism An assessment of the evidence on the effectiveness and efficiency of the universal welfare state Mike Danson, Robin McAlpine, Paul Spicker and Willie Sullivan December 2012 The Case for Universalism An assessment of the evidence on the effectiveness and efficiency of the universal welfare state Mike Danson, Robin McAlpine, Paul Spicker and Willie Sullivan December 2012 Mike Danson is Professor of Enterprise Policy at Heriot-Watt University. He has worked on issues of poverty, worklessness and inequality for many years and recently co-organised the “Whose Economy?” seminar series with Oxfam in Scotland. Robin McAlpine is Director of the Jimmy Reid Foundation and Editor of the Scottish Left Review Paul Spicker is Professor of Public Policy at the Robert Gordon University, and the author of books on poverty and social security including Poverty and Social Security (1993), The idea of poverty (2007) and How social security works (2011). Willie Sullivan works as the Scottish Director of the Electoral Reform Society and owns and runs a small retail business. He writes here as Vice Chair of Compass Summary In the second half of 2012 much has been made of what has been called the ‘opening up of debate’ about the universal welfare state in Scotland. The idea that there was no debate about universalism prior to this point is absurd; one of the big-four political parties in Scotland stood on a manifesto explicitly proposing increasing selectivity at the expense of universalism and parts of the Scottish media have been pursuing this issue ever since the establishment of the Scottish Parliament.
    [Show full text]
  • Ada Blair Bc
    Riddoch’s Scotland – Eigg: God appears before the House of No man is an island page 9 Commons select committee page 24 radical feminist green No 31 / WINTER 2011-12 / £2 AT LANTIC DEPRESSION HOW CAN WE AVOID ANOTHER GREAT RECESSION? PLUS PRETTY NASTY: THE COSMETIC COVER-UP ISSN 2041-3629 THE PENSIONS DISPUTE: WHAT NEXT? THE JIMMY 01 REID FOUNDATION SKETCHES FROM A SMALL WORLD THE FERAL SUPERCLASS REVIEWS DIARY 9772041362003 MAGAZINE OF SCOTLAND’S DEMOCRATIC LEFT EDITORIAL Contents I Perspectives No 31, winter 2011-12 ECONOMICS AND INDEPENDENCE Sketches from a small world here are two great issues that that might avert lengthy and debil - 3Eurig Scandrett are likely to dominate Scottish itating recession. Tpolitics over the next few The dark cloud cast by the Atlantic depression years: the continuing financial financial crisis is picked up by David Purdy crisis and the run-up to the SNP other contributors: Stuart 5 Scottish government’s promised Fairweather on the (at the time of referendum on independence, now writing) unresolved public sector No man is an island pencilled in by Alex Salmond for pensions issue, following the huge Lesley Riddoch autumn 2014. strike in November; and Erik 9 Taking the latter first, it is clear The whole Cramb writes about the feral from the UK coalition govern - debate has superclass who appear to owe loy - Pretty Nasty ment’s recent intervention, seeking alty to no-one – apart from them - Morag Parnell to lay down the law as to how and the power to selves. 13 when this referendum will be con - generate far 2011 marked the 40th anniver - ducted, that the whole debate over more heat sary of the UCS work-in.
    [Show full text]
  • Time for Life Why a Four-Day, 30-Hour Working Week Can Create a Stronger Economy, a More Equal Society and Greater Life Satisfaction for Everybody
    Time for Life Why a four-day, 30-hour working week can create a stronger economy, a more equal society and greater life satisfaction for everybody MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pat Kane, Isobel Lindsay, Gillian Wales and Ben Wray April 2014 Time for Life Why a four-day, 30-hour working week can create a stronger economy, a more equal society and greater life satisfaction for everybody Pat Kane is author of ‘The Play Ethic: A Manifesto for a Different Way of Living’. Pat is a consultant on the power and potential of play through his website theplayethic.com. Pat is also a musician in the band Hue & Cry. Isobel Lindsay is an industrial sociologist who lectured at Strathclyde university for over 40 years. Gillian Wales is involved in community activism in Gorbals, Glasgow and Larkhall, Lanarkshire. She formerly worked in the IT industry and has degrees in both Business and Human Geography from Strathclyde University. Ben Wray is Policy Coordinator for the Jimmy Reid Foundation Acknowledgements Thanks to Anna Coote, head of Social Policy at New Economics Foundation, for opening up the case for a shorter working week and for comments on this report. With thanks for comments from Iain Cairns, Allen Worwood, Joseph Ritchie, Gordon Morgan and Craig Wales Executive Summary In Britain workers work among the longest hours in Europe. This has many damaging effects. The economic impacts of overwork include diminished productivity, absenteeism and a knock-on cost for welfare. The social impacts of overwork include impact on family life, poorer quality of service for customers from exhausted staff, a damaging emphasis on constant consumption, a low level of civic participation and problems of gender inequality.
    [Show full text]